Mobile scaffolding brake

Abstract

A mobile scaffolding (10) for elevating a worker (not shown) above a floor or ground surface (S) is disclosed. The scaffolding (10) broadly includes a pair of frames (12) and (14), a platform (16) supported by the frames (12,14), a pair of casters (18, 20) and (22,24) rollably supporting a respective one of the frames (12,14), and a brake assembly (26, 28,30, and 32) associated with a corresponding one of the casters (18,20,22,24), respectively. The inventive brake assemblies (26,28,30,32) enable the worker supported on the platform (16) to selectively activate and deactivate the respective brake assemblies (26,28,30,32) from the platform (16). This enables the worker supported on the platform (16) to deactivate the brake assemblies (26,28,30,32), reposition the scaffolding (10), and then reactivate the brake assemblies (26,28,30,32) without requiring the worker to dismount from the platform (16).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates generally to mobile scaffolding. More specifically, the present invention concerns a mobile scaffolding brake that can be activated from the support platform and when activated restrains motion of the scaffolding. The inventive brake enables a worker supported on the scaffolding platform to selectively prevent unsafe and inadvertent motion of the scaffolding while the worker is supported thereon.2. Discussion of Prior ArtIt is known in the art to utilize scaffolding to provide an elevated work platform to elevate a worker above a floor or ground surface to complete a task (e.g., painting, drywall finishing, etc.). The scaffolding utilized to provide the elevated work platform is often mobile scaffolding that can be quickly and easily moved from one working position to the next. For example, it is known in the art to support a scaffolding frame with one or more casters that enable the assembled scaffold...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an improved scaffolding brake that does not suffer from the problems and limitations of the prior art brakes detailed above. The inventive brake enables a worker supported on the scaffolding platform to selectively activate the brake while supported on the support platform to restrain motion of the scaffolding and thereby prevent unsafe and inadvertent motion of the scaffolding while the worker is supported thereon.

Problems solved by technology

These prior art caster brakes are problematic and have several undesirable limitations.

For example, the prior art brakes cannot be activated by a worker while the worker is supported on the scaffolding platform.

The prior art caster brakes undesirably require the worker to either repeatedly climb up and down the scaffolding to set and unset the brake or require two workers (e.g., one to do the tile work on the platform and one to operate the brake from the ground) to perform the same amount of work a single worker could otherwise accomplish in the same span of time.

It has further been determined that unsafe working conditions arise when a worker is supported on the scaffolding platform and the brake is not in a locked position (e.g., if the tile worker previously described fails to set the brake each time) thereby enabling the scaffolding to roll undesirably placing the supported worker in peril of losing balance and / or falling off the scaffolding.

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